Circuit-interrupter.



H.G.MACDONALD cmcun Mmmm.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.`I5, I9Iv2.

- Patented N017. 28, 1916.

I 4 E O EDI H.G. MACDONALD. clRculTlNvTERRl-UPTER.

l 33 IIIII 3.2

g WITNESSES: Kiiiiml APPLICATION FILED FEB. l5, I9l2.

1 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. .2.8, 1916. V

sana

carlton.,

HOWARD e. iaaenonatn, or Winiitinssnno, Panneau/*Ania Assrononiro House ancorato 'Aam raaaiuaacrunns contracts, oon-roaa'rron or PENN- srnvanra.

Lacasse.

oracuranrnnnurrnn.

Specification of rs latent.

Nev; es, 191e.,

'application ined rem-amy inicia. semi erases.

*of the cih-immersed ,type which are provided with means for both manual and automatic release.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated class which shall be simple and 'durable in construction and etfective and reliable in operation, and shall also embody an operating mechanism of the. so-called non-closable- .on-overload type to be actuated by means 'of an operating handle which is `located at.l la distance from the circuit mterrupter and is associated therewith by suitable mechani cal connecting means. 1 l

Another object of my invention is to provide adequate means whereby the position oi the remotely-located operating handle may positively indicate vhether the circuit interrupter is open or closed, irrespective of Whether the interrupter is tripped automati cally 'ormanually.`

Heretofore, the usual 'practice has been to -either locate the restrainingy latch and tripping mechanism of a remotely controlled circuit interrupter upon the switchboard in combination with the operating handle, in which case, the operating handle may be made to serve the purpose oi an indicator, or the latch and tripping mechanism have been associated with the circuit interrupter proper, in which case the operating handle-does'not indicate the condition of' thel interrupter, and. `auxiliary signal lamps have been employed. l

lith the first arrangement, when the interrupter is autinnatically tripped, .an-ap preciable time exists between the instant of tripping and the actual opening ot the interrupter, which is caused by thev operation ot' the mechanical connecting means between the ope'ating handle and the interrupter. Furthermore,with this arrangement, addition a l mechanism yshown in Fig. 2;

control req ed.

lilith the second arrangement, the interrunter responds immediately to, abnormalcircuit conditions and.- although no unnecessary time interval exists between its release and its actual openingt still, the' remotelylocated ope lian-ille`v gives no act'nrate 60 indicatnm of the condition loi the breaker, and signal lamps .are relied upon, which necessarily complicates the vcircuit connections and reduces the reliability. I

According to my present invention` l provide a circuit interruptor of the noncalosable-on-overload type, and L ar 'ange the component parts or" the [operating mechanism in such manner that the frestraipgw latch and the automatic tripping device may 7G be located Within the interrupter. Further: more,'the position of theoperating handle Wiring to the switchboard 1s `indicates 'with reliability vwhether the interrupter is open or closed. Thus, the disadvantages and ditiiculties heretofore encoun` i5 tered in connection with apparatus of this type are overcome and"aninterrupter which is simple in construction and reliable in'7 I operation is provided. My invention may best be understood by 80, reference to the accompanying drawings in vvhich- I i l l A- ligure l is a vievv, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a circuit inter- ,rupter embodying mj invention, Fig.' 2 is 85 an enlarged plan 'view of aportion lofthe operating mechanism shown in Fig l, and y Fig. 3 isl a view, partiallypin section and partially in sideelevation, or" the operating 90f Referring to the vdrawings in detail, the apparatus here shown comprises a pluralityA of stationary contact members l, a plurality of cooperating movable contact members 2,

an operating mechanism 3 embodying a 95 compound. operatingflever e, a plurality of latches' 5 and 6, automatic tripping devices T, a remotelydisposed operating `handle 8 and a mechanism 9 for mechanically connecting said operating handle with said compound operating lever.

The cooperating stationary and movable copiant member; i and 2, respectively, are preferably of the butt-contact type, al-

though anyiother suitable construction may be employed, the stationary Contact members l being supported at the `lower ends,-

movable contact members 2 are arranged in cooperativejrelationshipA with the contact -members l the usual manner and are suit` ably attached- 'to 'the lower end of rod 13 which is pivotally associated with the operating mechanism 3.

' 'I'l e operating mechanism 3 comprises a lever 14.-, one end of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the suspension rod 13 and the other end of vhich is similauly,connected to the upper e' dof a guide link 15. The guide link l5 is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 16 that is carried at the end of a bracket member '17 ivith which the cover 11 is provided, and said guidelink 15 projects slightly 'below its pivotal support and is provided with a boss or lug,` 1%. for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

, ln order to assist in the operation ot' the movable contactl members 2, toggle mechanism. comprising, a link 19 which is pivotally connected to the llever .il

at a point substantially midway between its. vends and an arm 2() that forms an 'integral part of a main lever 2l which coperaties with a bifurcated auxiliary lever to form the compound operating lever l hereinbefore mentioned -and more fully set forth hereinafter.

The integrally associated arm 2() and lever :'21, and also the auxiliary lever 22: are pivotally supported upon the shaft 16 and associated with the arm 20 is a projecting membei' that is provided With an adjustable stopl, the latter being adapted to engage the lug or boss 18 on the link l5 in order to 'permit any desired adjustment of pressure between the coperating contact members l and 2.

011e end of a guiding link 26 is pivotally connectedto the lever ll upon the pin which serves as the pivotal connection for the link 19, and the other end is similarly associated .vvith the upper end of an upwardly projecting member '24' which forms a part ot' the cover il. said link 26 serving to constrain the movements of the operating mechanism Within prescribed limits.

, The main and auxiliary leversI 2l and Q2. respectively, are connected together to form the compound operating lever -l by means of the latch 5 that is pivotally supported upon the auxiliary lever and engages a pin 2S that is carried at the end et thel lever 21.

'lf he latch is also provided with an arm 29' that projects above hammer' roCisl-SilY Which l 'provide a Loose-eff are severally associated ivith movable core devices T. Each ot' the trippingdevices 7 is supported by suitable bracket members 3l and further embodies a stationary core member 32 and an energizing Winding 33.

ln order to restrain the compoundoperating` lever l in itsV closed position, whereby the cooperating contact members are 1nain tained in engagement, the latch G is provided and is pivotally mounted upon a pin 35 and adapted to engage a detent 3G on the auxiliary lever 22. The latch G is provided With a spring 3T which is disposed betiveen a portion ot' a supporting bracket 3S and a downwardly projecting member 39 torming adapted to maintain said latch 6 ment with the detent 36.

in engageto be engaged by the upper end ot a rod 4l ll being` provided with -a suitable button or handle i3., n extension member all also constitutes a part of the latch 6 and projects upwardly between arms -l of a bifurcated portion that is disposed approximately in the middle of the lever 2. A pin i6 is carried between the armsv l5 j-ust referred t0, and said pin engages the extension member -ll when the compound lever al. and operating mechanism are in their closed positions. The extension member li serves as a cam during the opening operation of the interruptor and, by reason of its peculiar shape and its engagement with the pin lf3, the release of the latch (3' from the detent 3G is etl'ected when the lever 2l moves into its upper position.

llvitliinthe casing l2, and fixed to the shaft lo, is an arm JJ having a slot or recess ttl in its 'free end to receive one end 'of a rod lf) which projects through the several arms ot' the bifurcated auxiliary lever 22 and is,

disposed parallel to the shaft 1G. The shaft 1G projects through the casing l2-and its outer end carries a bell crank lever 50. one arm of which carries a counterweight 5l, While the outer end of the other arm 51 is connected by a pin and slot connection 52 to a vertically disposed rod 53. T 11e rod 53 is provided with a projecting arm 5l which is adapted to engage the button 43 at the loiver end of the rod llv under certain conditions: as Will be hereinafter set forth.

The operating handle H is pivotally mounted upon a suitable switchboard panel ithat vis remotely located with respect to the circuit interrupter proper. and said handle is mechanically connected lto the rod 53 by means of connecting' rods 5G and 5T A and bell crank levers 5SA and 5S). Obviously.

The latch v6 is further provided with a projecting arm l0 a part of the latch 6. i The spring il? is ydevices l', sufficient current traverses the.

same to energize either otl the movable core members 31, one of the li-aiiiiiier rods 80. is projected against the arm 2S) of the latch 5 and the main levei-Zl is thereby released. Thus, the operating toggle formed by the link 19 and the arm 20 is allowed to collapse, whereby the separation of the cooperating contact members l and 2 is eti'ected in a well known manner. v

During the opening operation of the interriipter; the operating lever 2l is rotated in a clockwise direction into its upper position and, in so doing, the latch 6 is released Jfrom the detent 3G on the auxiliary lever by reason of the cooperative engagement of the pin 46 and the extension member 44e of Said latch. Hence, lthe counterweight 5l, which is rigidly associated with the shaft 1G, causes said shaft to be rotated in a-clockwise direct-ion and, inasmuch as the arm '-lT is pinned there-to and is, furthermore, mechanically `associated with the bifurcated auxiliary lever 22 by means of the rod ll), thelever 22 is thereby moved upwardly in a clockwise direction into its open position. ln this position, the Iiiain and auxiliary levers 21 and'2'2, respectivelya're again connected together by means of the latch 5 and occupy the positions shown in dot and dash lines in dio' 1.

c' During the upward movement of the auX- 'iliary lever 22 the rod 53 is drawn upwardly,

on account ot' its connection with the arm 5la of the bell crank 50 which ,is pinned to the shaft 1G. It .is evident, therefore, that, through the agency of .the connecting rods 5G and 57 and 'bell crank levers 5S, hei-einbefore set forth, the operating handle S is raised into its upper position, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig'. l, and hence, serves to indicate that the interriipter is open. In order to close the iiiterrupter, the opere ating-'handle S is forced downwardly and the -movement thereo'tl is transmitted, through the connecting mechanismA just referred to,

vto the shaft 1G and thence to the auxiliary through the agency of bifiii'cated lever 22 the arm `4T and the rod ell).

The comnou nd lever 4, comprising the main and auxiliary levers il and 12, respectively, which are now connected by the latch 5, is thus moved downwardly into 'its closed posif tion and. it iio abnormal circuit conditions obtain. the latch (3 engages the detent 2%(3 and maintains the compound lever l in its closed position. the various parts ot' the apparatus then occupying positions shown intull lines in the'accoiiipanyiiigdrawings. During; the downward movement otl the compound lever l, the operating toggle is Jforced toward its dead center position, thereby raising" the lever ll and, hence, eii'ecting the closure otI theI cooperating contact members l and 2. However,- in case abnormal circuit conditions exist when the iiiterrupter -is being closed, the one or the other, or both. ot' the tripping devices 7 .will be energized and one ordboth ot' the associated hammer rods Il() will be projected against the latch 5, whereby said latch is disengaged Jfrom the pin 28. ln this way, the main operating lever 21 4is immediately rel Based, and the iiiterrupter l is desired, the operator has only to raise the' operating handle S into its upper position, whereby the rod 53 is moved upwardly through the agency of the interconnecting mechanism 9 and the'arm lassociated with the said rod is caused to engagethebutton l?, at the lower end otl the rod 4l. The rod l1, therefore, is brought into engagement' with the arm l0 of the hitch G, whereby said latch is released from the detent 3G and the compound lever l, as a unit, is released. ABy reason'of the counter-weight 51 and the weight otl the iiiterrupter parts, the operating toggle is permitted to buckle, thereby allowing the cooperating contact members ot' the interriipter to separate. The compound lever -l is thus raised into its upper position.

It will be. understood that, as the operating handle S is raised and a corresponding movement is giveii the rod 53, said movement has no direct etlect upon the operating mechanism of the interriipter, except through. the agency ot' the tripping rod ll. inasmuch as the rod 53 is associated therewith by means otl a pin and slot connection which allows considerable lost motion.

`illhen the compound lever' l reaches its upper-position, the pin. which forms a part ot' thepin and slot connection hereinbetore mentioned, comes into engagement with the upper portion of the vslotted rod 53 and 'thereby retains said rod and the operating handle, in their upper positions. Thus, the operating handle .8 again serves to indicate thatvthe interrupter is open;A The closing details and arrangement and location ofpai'ts, those skilled inthe art -Will readily understand that various modifications may :operation of the interrupter'maytlien ybe i manner hereinbefore setv be effected therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I desire that only such limitations shall beimposed claims.

I claim'as my invention l. Iii a circuit interrupter, t'heicombiiia- A'tion With relatively movable contact members, an operating mechanism for said movable members mounted compound operating-lever, means associated With said lever for latching ythe embodying a pivotallyA as are indicated in the appendedy component members thereof together, and means for restraining said compound lever in its closed position, of means for' releasing said latching means and a cam member associated with said restraining means and cooperating With one of said component'members for subsequently releasing said restrain?v ing means.

2. In a circuit interrupter, the combination With relatively movable coperating lever as a unit.

contact imembers,` an operating mechanism for the movable members, a compound operating lever associated with said mecha?.

nism, and means for restrainingsaid lever in its closed position and for connecting the component pa ts thereof together, of means for automaticlly releasing the component parts of said compound lever in succession and for manually releasing the compound 3. In a. circuit interrupter, the combination With relatively movable coperating contact members, an operating ymechanism for the movable members, and a compound operating lever associated with said mechanism and comprisingmainand auxiliary le vers, of means vfor latching said main and auxiliary levers together-,means for releasing said latching means, 'a second means for i latching said compound lever in its closed position and a cam member forming a partl of said secondlatching means and normally adapted to engage a portion of said auxiliary lever for automatically releasing said second latcliing means subsequent to the vrelease of said first latching means.

4. Ina circuit interrupter, the combination with relatively 'movable coperating contact members., an operating mechanism for the movable member and a compound operating lever associated. ivi th said operating mechanism and comprising a main lever and an auxiliary leverl having an opening therein and a' pin projecting transversely across said opening, 'of a latch for connecting said levers, means dependent upon -predetermined circuit conditions for releasing 'sa-id latch, a second latch for restrainingv said main leverin .its closed position,ineans for manually releasing said second latch,

vand a cam constituting a part of said second latch and'projecting normally through saidH .opening and in engagement with said 'pin for eifectingthe'automatic release of said secondV latch under 'predetermined'.condi! tions.

5. 'In a circuit41 interrupter,'theccmbination- With relatively v movable coperating| means for latching said levers together, a

latch for restraiiiiig said auxiliary lever amJ its associated'main lever in their closed posi` tions," a cam constituting a projecting portion of said latch and adapted to coperate I with said engaging member, electro-responsive means for releasing said latching means, whereby the opening ofthe-interrupter is elected and the said' engaging member operatessaid restraining latch .to cause said main levers to be released.

6. In a circuit interrupter, the.combina tion with relatively movable cotperating contact members, an operating mechanism for said movable members, and a compound operating leverfor said mechanism, comprising coaXiallypivoted main. and auxiliary lever members, ofmeans for vconnecting said lever members together and for restraining said members in their elosedpositions, and

'means embodying a cam normally engaging said main lever member for automatically releasing ,said restraining means under pref determined conditions.

7. In a circuit interrupter, the combina'- 4 tion with movable. and stationary contact members, and a compound operating lever for the movable contact member, of -means for restraining the saidl lever -in its closed position and for connecting the component parts thereof together, means 'for automati' cally releasing the component-parts of the lever in succession, and an operating means foracuating'th'e said lever and for manually releasing it as a unit. v

8. In aicircuit interrupter, the combination with relatively movable coperating contact members, and an operating mechanism for the movable members. of means for restraining said mechanism, means for automatically releasing said restraining means under predetermined conditionsl and for preventing tlie restraint of said' interrupter when closed under said conditions, an operl K ating ine-ans for actuating said mechanism and foi' nanuay releasing said restraining means, and a pin and slot connecen between seid operating means and said mecha nsrn for emsing said, operating means 'be ndca'e the condition of the nternpter.

n testimony "whereof, l have hereunto :sev

subscribed my neme this 13th aff O'I" Feb.,

.HOWARD GL MACBONLD.

'Witnesses D MACE, B. B. EINES. 

